Marion County Remembers

Remembering S1C Dale Franklin Cox (Fairmont) May 7, 1926 - October 29, 1944 ---- S1C Dale Franklin Cox (Service #7555747) was born in Fairmont, WV on May 7, 1926, the son of Lester and Anna (Smallwood) Cox. Their family lived on Country Club Road, where Lester was a City Truck Driver (1930 Census). On February 10, 1938, Lester died of Angina Pectoris at age 41 in Weston (where the family was living), leaving Anna as a single mother of 7 kids, ages 2 to 16. Anna and her kids moved to 34 Freeland Street in Fairmont. In the 1940 census, 14-year-old Dale was listed as a "new worker." Military Service: On November 17, 1942, Dale enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve in Charleston, WV at age 16. On March 21, 1944, he boarded the destroyer escort U.S.S. Eversole (DE-404). On October 28, 1944, the U.S.S. Eversole was sunk in the Leyte Gulf by two torpedos from the Japanese submarine I-45. While many crewmembers made it to the surface, a tremendous explosion (believed to be an an...

Remembering S1C William Emmett "Bill" Buckey, Jr. (Fairmont) September 15, 1923 - October 24, 1944 ---- Early Life: S1C William Emmett Buckey, Jr. (Service #7004347) was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on September 15, 1923, the son of Emmett (Sr.) and Ada (Talkington) Buckey. Willian Sr. and Ada met while they were both students at Fairmont State Normal School (now Fairmont State University) and married in 1915. The 1912 FSNS yearbook, The Mound, says of William: "His future--ask Ada." The 1920 census lists the duo as residing in Morgantown, with William's occupation as "student." In 1923, William became the principal of Fairmont Senior High School, after graduating from WVU with a Master's degree in 1922. Their family lived at 804 Locust Avenue when William Jr. was born and throughout his whole life (1923 City Directory-1945 City Directory). Education and Enlistment: William, Jr, known in his high school yearbooks as "Bill," graduated f...

Remembering W3C Charles Homer Hustead (Fairmont) February 24, 1921 - April 20, 1944 ---- Water Tender 3rd Class Charles Homer Hustead (Service # 5529424) was born February 24, 1921 to Abe and Bernice (Botts) Hustead in Fairmont, West Virginia. Charles was the middle child of three siblings, two girls (Juanita and Mary) and one boy. Abe Hustead was a tailor by trade, owning his own shop in Fairmont. When Charles was born, his family was renting a house at 224 Washington Street. Unfortunately, Bernice died in 1925 of Scarlet Fever, age 29. At the time of Bernice's death, Charles was three and Juanita was three. Bernice (and later Abe, who lived until 1964) is  buried at Woodlawn Cemetery  in Fairmont. Abe never remarried. From 1930 to at least Abe's death in 1964, the family rented a home at 344 Hamilton Street. Military Service: Charles draft card is undated, but gives his employer as "Simms Recreation," H.M. Simms. At that time Charles lists himself as 5'9" a...